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Back to Wesoomi's Archives The Legend of Wesoomi: Eighteen, Visit with the Bandar: July 1, 2002: Spirt Guide and Little Warrior sat on the rocks in the cove by the Big Water. "This is your Hidden place," said Spirit Guide. "Indeed. I come here to ponder at times." "I thank you for sharing it. I am honored." "It be a safe place to share words. The sharing be safe with you." "Indeed. I would not betray it." Little Warrior turned to face Spirit Guide. "And now it be time to speak of many things." "Yes," answered Spirit Guide. "I feel that we have much to say and hear." "There must needs be a trust," warned Little Warrior. "Indeed, we cannot speak without it." "It is good. Now, I must needs ask, what be your goal? Be it to rule the Nation of People?" "Nay, I wish nothing of that. I would be pleased with the power to rule myself." Little Warrior laughed. "As Crazy Wolf said, you speak like a warrior." "Or a servant of the Great Spirit." "And which be you, a servant or a warrior?" "I be a servant, Little Warrior. Always know that. I be no warrior. That wish abides not in me." "Yet, Crazy Wolf, finds menace in you. He hears the songs and tales of the travelers. They sing of you as the leader of the Nation." "Those are tales astray. I seek no power. I wish only to serve the Great Spirit." "I so believe," smiled Little Warrior, "but know you this. Crazy Wolf believes it not." "Perhaps, I should speak with him. Yet, I ponder on that. I had a dream." "What dream?" "I dreamed that you spoke to me." "Indeed?" "Indeed. You said, ‘He means you harm. Beware of him.'" "This night just past?" "You know of it?" "I had such a dream. I spoke as you said." "What does it mean, Little Warrior?" "I know not. It be words I would not speak. Yet, in the dream, I did so speak." "What be in your heart?" "I will not speak of that," said Little Warrior abruptly. "I beg forgiveness, Little Warrior. It was not mine to ask." Little Warrior smiled. "It is good," he said. "Some things are best not said." "Aye." Little Warrior grew pensive. "He slew my father, you know." "He so spoke himself. I was startled by it. He seemed proud." "Aye. To him it was a deed of power. He has slain many since." "The thought brings grief to my heart." "Let us move on to other things," said Little Warrior. "Indeed. I must needs ask, was it a dream or did you minister to me in my shelter." "You remember that?" "In part. It seems you gave me water and food while I lay too frail to serve myself." "I found you frail indeed." "How found you me?" "It was a strange thing," mussed Little Warrior. "A beautiful golden woman came to me in my lodge as I slept." "That woman be my mother, Little Warrior. She abides in the domain of the Great Spirit." "She be the Golden Earth Mother of the Songs we hear?" "Indeed. She perished giving me birth." "Yet she returns when she wishes?" "I know not Little Warrior. I must believe she returns when it be necessary; when the Great Spirit bids her." "Perhaps," said Little Warrior. "I must needs believe it. You were indeed in need of my aid." "And my mother sent you to me." "Indeed. She spoke to me. She told me to go to the place where the streams join and I would find you. And, I did, in great need." "You came to save my life." "I came because the golden woman so bid me." "You were compelled?" "Perhaps. I know only that I thought not to do otherwise." "However you came, I must needs thank you." "If you wish. It is done and you are well." "In truth I am, well enough to serve the Great Spirit. I had wish to thank you for that, but you were gone when I found my senses." "Aye. When your father appeared I found no need to remain." "He did come to nurture me. It took many days." "He be not your true father." Indeed. Yet, he be the only father I know, and true enough to me." "Indeed. He be a good father to you. Would that I had as much." "It be a heavy grief you carry, my friend." "Aye. A grief which awaits its time," whispered Little Warrior. "Time," mussed Spirit Guide. "In the design of the Great Spirit, all things come in time." "Aye," smiled Little Warrior. "If you so believe." "I so believe," laughed Spirit Guide. The two sat in silence for a time, then Spirit Guide spoke. "You are of the Bandar." "Indeed." "Know you that I too am of the Bandar?" "I knew it not, but I had guessed it to be, else why came you to visit here?" "Aye. My mother was a captive of the Bandar. My blood father be Bandar." "It seems we share some grief," whispered Little Warrior. "Aye," replied Spirit Guide. "I have sometimes wondered which of Crazy Wolf's warriors be my blood father." "I know not. That deed was done when I was but a cub." "Aye." If I knew, I would still fear to tell you." "Aye," smiled Spirit Guide. "Caution be the mother of wisdom." "Knowing would change nothing and could bring trouble." "Indeed. Yet, I wonder. He musts needs be one of the elders." "One of the slow of hand and thick of belly," laughed Little Warrior. "I saw some like that on my visit last," smiled Spirit Guide. "What you saw was the bud. Now the flower is in bloom." Spirit Guide laughed with Little Warrior. "I wonder," mussed Spirit Guide, "are these the Bandar Warriors who bring fear to the villages of the People?" "That time be gone, Spirit Guide. The Bandar live by past repute." "Indeed. I hear tales of tribute. Of raids, I hear none of present time." "In truth, the fear of the Crazy Wolf would quickly fade, could his enemies but see the mighty Bandar warriors at feast." "Yet, for now, Crazy Wolf be in power." "Aye, for now," mussed Little Warrior. "For now." "You foresee change?" "Who can say," smiled Little Warrior. "Power be like the times of the moon. It comes to fullness foretelling it's own decline." "Yet, it always returns to fullness." "Be you sure Spirit Guide? Be it always the same moon?" "That be a profound thought. Be the new moon the same old moon? Perhaps not. Crazy Wolf be mortal. That seems true." "Aye," replied Little Warrior grimly. "Who then would take his place?" pondered Spirit Guide with a knowing grin. "Who is to know," snapped Little Warrior. "This is all words. Nothing more." "Aye, just our thoughts for now. We must needs wait and see." "As you said, my friend, ‘All things come in time.'" "Yet, these thoughts of waning power pull upon me," mused Spirit Guide. "I think I must needs see it for myself." "Let us go then," smiled Little Warrior. "It be near time for the evening repast. I am sure, Crazy Wolf will be pleased to have your presence." He stood and reached his hand out to Spirit Guide. Spirit Guide took his hand and pulled himself erect. The stood with hands clasped near their breasts for a moment. A bond was formed. Then they turned and walked together, out into the Big Water and around the cliff to shore. "This be my place and now it be your place," said Little Warrior. "Come here when you have need." "I am honored, my friend. I will come here and I will guard the knowledge of this place" Together they went into the village of the Bandar. They found Crazy Wolf about to enter the longhouse. "I bring a guest," said Little Warrior. "My greetings, Chief Crazy Wolf," offered Spirit Guide. "Crazy Wolf smiled. "I am honored," he said. "We are about to partake the evening bread and meat. Please join us." "I thank you, Chief. I will be pleased to partake." They entered the longhouse where many of the Chief's elder warriors sat lazily about. Spirit Guided noticed that most of them were indeed as Little Warrior had described. They were slow of hand and thick of belly; not likely to inspire respect or fear, even in cubs. Little Warrior took his place beside the chief and Spirit Guide sat on the other side. They were served by young women, none of whom smiled. They partook the evening repast and they spoke of many things. They spoke of no things of import until near the end of the meal. Then Crazy Wolf smiled as though being friendly and interested. His eyes told the true tale. They were hard and piercing. There was interest, but no friendliness in them. "We still hear the songs and stories about you," said Crazy Wolf. "They grow larger and more wondrous with each telling. They say you are the new chief of the Nation of People." Spirit Guide laughed. "I have not changed Chief. I am a simple servant of the Great Spirit. The songs and stories, be they of me, are astray. I lead no one. I follow the Great Spirit." "And what would you do, should the Great Spirit set you to be the Chief of the Nation of People?" "I need not ponder on that. The Great Spirit has set my task. It is to learn and teach about the Great Spirit. Nothing more." "Indeed? And how came you to this knowing of your task?" "My mother, the Golden Earth Mother, so told me, in a dream." "I have never had such a dream." "It came to me only after much petition and cleansing." The Chief laughed evilly. "Perhaps your dream was just the fruit of a hunger deceived head". "Indeed Chief, It could so be." "But you believe it." "That be not a choice I make. It happened to me, Chief," smiled Spirit Guide. Again, the Chief's eyes hardened. "I will accept it for now, Spirit Guide, but know you this. Be you of a desire to power, I would have you with me. You say you are a servant of the Great Spirit. I hear your words and hear of your deeds and I say you are a warrior. Together we could rule the Nation of People. Of that I am sure. "Before my time, the Bandar were a weak and unimportant tribe. I have struggled mightily to bring my people to power. Now we are a people of notice and power. I would not let that change. I would not lose that power. "Remember this, I would have you with me if you so choose, but do not go against me. I would be a dangerous foe. Be warned." "I assure you Chief, I have no wish to power," said Spirit Guide, with sincerity. "I wish only to serve the Great Spirit." That is how the Spirit Guide's visit with Crazy Wolf ended. He spent the night in the lodge of Little Warrior and took his leave in the morning. As he did so, Little Warrior spoke to him again. "I fear for you, my friend," he said. "Do not come here again. Stay away and all will be well. Trust me. Crazy Wolf will find his own reward. I will get word to you when it comes to pass." Once again they clasped hands and held them near their breasts. Then Spirit Guide took his leave. Back to Wesoomi's Archives
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